7, September 2009

Oliver Townend completed the British four-star double yesterday when he added the Land Rover Burghley Horse Trials title, on board Carousel Quest, to the one he won at Badminton in May. The combination produced an immaculate clear round show jumping to add to their clear round cross-country and stunning lead dressage score of 39.8 on day one of the competition.

“I’m still celebrating Badminton,” said Townend afterwards. “It’s amazing and there’s no point in saying anything else because it hasn’t sunk in yet and it probably won’t for another year. Hopefully this puts me in a position to keep going forward for the future and to have more top class horses.”

Townend went into the arena with two show jumps in hand, but jumped a perfect round on Carousel Quest to finish 8.7 penalties clear of the rest of the field.  Townend’s result now sets up a thrilling competition in Lexington, Kentucky next April, when he could become only the second rider, after Pippa Funnell, to scoop the $350,000 Rolex Grand Slam for winning Badminton, Burghley and Kentucky consecutively. “I intend to go all out for it!” Townend said.

LAND ROVER BURGHLEY HORSE TRIALS 2009 FINAL RESULTS

1. Oliver Townend on Carousel Quest (GB) 43
2. Polly Stockton on Westwood Poser (GB) 51.7
3. Sam Griffiths on Happy Times (AUS) 52.3
4. Phillip Dutton on Truluck (USA) 54.5
5. Clayton Fredericks on Poilu (AUS) 55.7
6. Paul Tapner on Inonothing (AUS) 58.3
Notes to Editors

The Land Rover Burghley Horse Trials is one of the three competitions in the Rolex Grand Slam of Eventing. In order to win this prestigious award the rider must win the Mitsubishi Motors Badminton Horse Trials, the Land Rover Burghley Horse Trials, and the Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event, all in succession. So far the Grand Slam feat has only been achieved by Pippa Funnell, who won all three competitions in 2003 on two different horses.

In January 2008, Rolex announced that any rider who can duplicate Pippa Funnell’s achievement will now win an increased prize of $350,000.

The 2010 Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event is from 22-25 April.

Photo courtesy of Kit Houghton: Oliver Townend and Carousel Quest at Fence 14 – Rolex Combination, Land Rover Burghley Horse Trials 2009.

ENDS

For further information please contact:

Merrick Haydon
Tel: 0207 928 9999
email: merrick@revolutionsports.co.uk